FPA Sexual Health Week 14–20 September 2009

One too Many….Alcohol and sexual health

The One too Many campaign aims to find out what risks people are taking with their sexual health when they have been drinking. FPA knows that it is professionals dealing with these issues on a daily basis, and we want to give them support during the campaign.

Here are some tips for professionals to help them incorporate the campaign messages into their work:

Tips for health professionals during consultations.

Tips for professionals doing group or one-to-one work.

FPA website also lists a number of websites where you can find out more information on alcohol, and its effects on health and behaviour.

For more information or advice for professionals conducting a sexual health consultation, contact FPA national helpline, sexual health direct, on 0845 122 8690.

Tips for health professionals during consultations

During consultations:

• Be aware that this is a very difficult issue to recognise and deal with.
• It is about recognising who may need further support, and giving people information without being judgmental.
• Try to recognise factors that may warn you of a patient who is putting their sexual health at risk through drinking alcohol.

Find out about these ideas and more hints, tips and advice in the campaign briefing written by the FPA Helpline and Information Services Manager, Lynn Hearton.

Tips for professionals doing group or one-to-one work

During consultations:

• Introduce questions that raise awareness of risky sexual behaviour associated with drinking alcohol – for example, why do people drink alcohol, why do you drink alcohol, what effects does alcohol have on decision making?
• In sessions with young people, use leaflets from websites like Talk to Frank to find personal stories that raise some of these issues.
• Have a list of values or behaviours to do with drinking and sexual health that people can agree of disagree with – for example, people drink too much, drinking too much alcohol can lead to unsafe sex.
• Try getting a pair of “beer goggles”, that mimic the effects of being drunk, to use during condom demonstrations.